Umm so it has been a while, and one chock full of changes… Here is the drive by edition of it all for anyone interested.
First was a change in location, and that was a BIG one. Yes you read that right new horizons were exchanged in February 2007. A job came together and in less than 3 weeks between an email asking if I was interested in a contract with another international organisation, to and interview, to a wisdom tooth extraction, to packing up and moving, to my start date I moved from Paris to New York City. And WHOA was it a change in my horizons, one I was not in all fairness prepared for, as I was having dreams of perfection with dominoes FINALLY falling into place for me with dancing with sugarplums I think. To be polite the first three months were HELL on me. I was quite the annoyed little pixie as things did not fall into place as I had anticipated. And I let things bother me disproportionately. Also after so many years abroad, living in the US again has been a very distinctive and painful challenge. One that honestly left me feeling like I was stretched in ways that were NOT pleasant, like I didnt belong in this skin. I was swinging around in the NYC urban jungle, only that guy was not Tarzan and I am sure as fuck not Jane.
Then I went back to Paris for holiday, and holy shit did I all of a sudden feel me. Never have I been so happy to speak French again in my life. I hung out with friends and put my feet back on terra firma. Then I went and forced myself to stretch from within my skin. I went and traveled for a month on my own, call it my “You lived through hell on earth and are going to turn 30″ crisis present to myself. I went and traveled through Morocco and had an utterly incredible time. Then I went and spent time in Spain, being with my people 
Followed with a day in Rome and good friends (with some VERY VERY good food) and a week in Croatia on beaches of such blues that it is incredible.
Truths inevitable, you learn about yourself when you travel and move. Change though I may dislike it, is also a necessary part of life. And I came back to me a bit, and decided that whatever NYC was going to be to me, it was something I needed to experience. So I tried to come back with an open mind. (smattering of Morocco photos still working on the others)
And then summer swung over me. One of the most startling things I have noticed (in addition to the fact that until you learn to feed off the NYC vibe, it will feed off you) is how time in NYC is such a temporal concept. Blink and 6 months go by with not a whole lot to show for it excepting a senastion like someone has removed an organ and you want it back. But before I knew it, I survived August (with a flooded Subway and 50 block walk in horrific heat and humidity) and I got to go on vacation again This one planned for almost a year. To Greece! Dear friend from graduate school was having a christening for her son (husband is Greek) and wedding celebration. And I was the photographer. GOD HELP ME. But that trip (despite 36 hours of travel to get there, my luggage being lost the entire time- I look stellar in my one dress and bikini…) set me back into place. I was on a gorgeous island, I was with friends, and I was swimming in blue waters daily. Priorities shifted in me like tectonic plates shifting along the San Andeas fault line. I am loved and I am me. And you know what I am ready to move on. (with photos to come :))
I still am ambivalent on NYC but I am trying to change my approach and expand my boundaries. Trying to find my niches, my place and my way around this mass jungle. Because there is no doubt that I am more me in Paris and happier there. But life isn’t the same every where and this place has something to teach me too… I am starting over from new- which isn’t easy but it is an opportunity. And if I can keep that in focus I can hope that the other things will fall into place. So I am trying to open my eyes and appreciate the things this place has given me. And one of those things is access to yarn stores and knitting season (as I call the Fall) even if the weather faerie doesn’t agree.
